Itinerary

Day 1: Tsagaan Suvarga colorful mud cliffs

Tsagaan Suvarga means "White Stupa.” It is one of the most famous highlights in the Gobi. Tsagaan Suvarga is a strange natural formation of colorful, massive mud cliffs that look like stupas, mound-like structures containing relics. Hiking through the cliffs offers the chance to take amazing photographs.

Accommodation: Guest ger
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Drive to Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park, visit Eagle Valley

The Gobi Gurban Saikhan means "Three beautiful mountains in the Gobi.” The Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain is a beautiful national park itself rich in wildlife and scenic places. Among them, Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley is the one accessible by car. After our vehicle brings us to a designated parking area, we will walk through the resplendent valley into the depths of a sheer rock canyon, which accepts no sunlight. Therefore, it has ice until the end of June. The hiking continues 2.5 to 3 hours for travel into the valley and back to the vehicle. Golden eagles, elusive wild sheep and ibexes are indigenous to the valley.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Khongor Sand Dunes

Our journey will continue to Khongor, the largest sand dunes. After reaching the sand dunes, we’ll go hiking along the green river shore, climb sand dunes, visit a nomad family and have an hour of camel riding. If you can climb one of the tallest sand dunes, don't forget to spread the sand northwards against the wind to find the reason why locals call the sand dunes "Singing Sand.” The views are fantastic from the top of the sand dunes.

Accommodation: Guest Ger
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Flaming Cliffs and Ongi Monastery Ruin

Our adventure will continue to the Flaming Cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews found the remains of dinosaurs including the first dinosaur eggs ever discovered in the world. We will enjoy exploring the cliffs in search of dinosaur fossils we may find and visit the Gobi tree grove named “Bayanzag.” Which means “rich in saxaul trees.” This tree only grows in the Central Asian Gobi. Next, drive first through slate mountains and next on 80 km Ongi steppes leading to Ongi Monastery, one of the biggest seven monasteries in Mongolia. There were two separate monasteries consisting of more than 30 temples on the shores of the Ongi River surrounded by the Gobi mountains; however, the temples were destroyed during the socialist purge of the 1930s. Now the ruins of the monasteries cover a huge area. Visit a new active temple, a ger museum, explore the monastery ruins and climb a nearby mountain to have panoramic views of the surrounding areas.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Kharkhorin, Erdenezuu Monastery

This day’s tour takes place in the transition zone from the Gobi desert to the mountain steppes. Kharkhorin, formerly known as Kharakhorum, was once a capital of Chinggis Khaan's Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the move of the Mongolian capital to Beijing, and the fall of the Empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then destroyed by Manchurian soldiers in 1388. Today, in the vast valley of the Orkhon River, the awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with Kharkhorin town. See some valuable religious artifacts in the monastery museum, view its stunning architecture and the Kharakhorum Museum display remnants of the ancient city.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Drive to Tsenkher Valley, visit Tovhon Monastery

Our today’s adventure will continue to Tsenher Hot spa through eye capturing valleys of wooded mountains. On our way, we will view ancient tombs and burial mounds those date back to The Bronze Age and visit Tovhon Monastery. This small monastery was built on 2312 m a rocky top of Shiveet Ulaan Mountain. Reaching the monastery will require you 3 hours walking up and down the mountain, but not steep. The vista is incredible from the mountain top. We continue the journey driving through a lush green valley full of nomads and their numerous animals (mainly yaks). Spend the rest of the exploring life of the central Mongolian nomads.

Accommodation: Nomad Family
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7-8: Beautiful Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park and experience nomadic life

This day begins with a short tour of Tsetserleg town of Arkhangai province including its interesting local market. Continue the journey with break for a short, scenic rest at the Chuluut River. The Chuluut River flows between 30-50-meter-high lava canyons. The Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park was established to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of its flora & fauna. There are several extinct volcanoes within the National Park area. The most spectacular and most accessible is Khorgo Volcano. Astonishingly beautiful, the clear water lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (known as Great White Lake) formed after lava flows from the volcanoes blocked the north and south water access from the Terkh River. The lake is renowned for its fish and birdlife, including the Ruddy Shellduck and Great Cormorant. Rare species of flowers and pine trees grow in the black volcanic soil, and ancient lava flows streak out across the meadows which are home to alpine wildlife. In the afternoon, we climb the Khorgo Volcano, now extinct for nearly 8000 years. Its surrounding area has several caves and hideouts, which is why the volcano was named “Khorgo”, meaning shelter. This is not the only extinct volcano in the vicinity, but Khorgo is the youngest and most accessible among them. Here, you will see much of the National Park's territory is covered with thick basalt. Climb the volcano on stairs and trails, and upon reaching the top, walk along the volcano rim with outstanding views of surrounding areas; a small village can be seen from the volcano as well as a bird’s eye view of Terhkiin Tsagaan Lake. In the afternoon, travel to fresh water Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan. We stay with a yak herding nomad family ad explore more about the nomadic life.

Accommodation: Nomad Family
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Drive to Ugii Lake

Ugii is a beautiful small lake in the mountain steppes zone. Watch birds, hike along the shore of the Ugii Lake and relax in a ger camp in the vicinity of the lake.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Drive back Ulaanbaatar

Leave the ger camp early in the morning and arrive in Ulaanbaatar by lunch time. Have a lunch in a Mongolian barbecue restaurant and free afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Price

Background

Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve both European and Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups and a main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), and dessert and tea. Salads, a main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. About lunch, it will be packed as a picnic. More information on Mongolia meals

The tour includes 4 days ger camp stay, 4 days nomad family stay and a day guest ger stay. For more detailed information about the main accommodation ger camp, please visit Mongolia Ger camps and Mongolia nomad family stay

The majority of our company's guides are English speaking. We also have guides who speak German, French, Spanish and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience. During the camel riding, a local guide will support you.

Most of our tours were designed with four wheels driving Japanese vans driven by experienced, friendly and good mechanic-drivers. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation

The most suitable time to take the tour is between 15 May and 15 September. The weather will be warm this period of the year. In Mongolia, the weather fluctuates a lot; hourly, daytime and at night. The average day temperature of summer is +27°C and the highest +36°C in June, July, and August. The average day temperature of May and September is +21°C and the highest 28°C. The temperature drops by 15°C to 20°C in the evenings and at night. The temperature could dramatically fall if it rains. There are occasional chill wind and snowfalls in May, September, at the beginning of June, and at the end of August. July is the hottest, as well as the wettest month of the year. Get monthly weather outlook here. For your pre-departure preparation and an idea to prepare for this inflexible weather condition, you may check our detailed packing list of the discovery tour.

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, what to do and see in Mongolia page may help you.

As well as, please check attractions in Central Mongolia

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